SAN MARCOS, Calif. - The 8th ranked Ottawa University Arizona women's soccer team shutout the Firebirds from the University of Saint Katherine on Thursday afternoon by a final of 5-0 in San Marcos, California.
With the victory, the 8th ranked Spirit improve to 7-4 overall on the season.
"It was a great week for us," said OUAZ head women's soccer coach Skelly Kellar. "We are really growing as a team. I think we rebounded very well after a tough loss the other night. We are growing in our understanding of the game and in the rhythms of the game."
The Spirit jumped out to an early lead on Thursday afternoon and never looked back. In the second minute of the match, Shania Maddux(JR/Glendale, AZ) found Kaitlyn Kelsey (JR/Surprise, AZ) for the first of her two goals in the match. OUAZ took the early 1-0 lead.
Cassidy Chriest (JR/Peoria, AZ) added to the Spirit lead in the 13thminute, when she notched the game's second goal unassisted.
Carley Cope (JR/Gilbert, AZ) added two more goals for OUAZ in the 24thand 28th minute, to give the Spirit a commanding 4-0 lead at halftime. Briana Boehm (FR/Laveen, AZ) set-up Cope for her first goal, while Rianna Poarch (JR/Gilbert, AZ) set-up Cope for her second goal.
The second featured only one goal, which occurred towards the end of the match in the 83rd minute. Shayna Marquez (FR/Surprise, AZ) found Kaitlyn Kelsey for her second goal of the match, to seal to 5-0 victory for the Spirit.
In the win, OUAZ outshot the University of Saint Katherine 23 to two. Spirit goalie Brooke Riddle (JR/Cypress, CA) got the shutout win, while recording one save.
Kellar continued, "Today we challenged the girls to really stretch the field going forward and to really have the intent to score goals today. I thought we responded great, scored early, and never looked back. I am really proud of the girls but now it is time to look forward at this extremely difficult next week and focus on the task at hand."
The 8th ranked Spirit will take to the pitch next on Tuesday October 10that 7pm, when OUAZ travels north to Prescott to face Embry-Riddle (AZ) University.
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About Ottawa University
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity within a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution serving 3,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Phoenix, Queen Creek and Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; Jeffersonville, Ind.; as well as online. For more information, visit www.ottawa.edu.
For more information about OUAZ athletics, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/athletics. Follow OUAZ athletics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OUAZSpiritAthletics/ and on Twitter twitter.com/OUAZSpirit.
